Susie groaned. She had tried kicking the snowmobile, but that didn’t work, and she was all out of ideas. She supposed she could kick it again, but since it didn’t work the first time, it was unlikely it would work this time either.
She wrapped her scarf around her head and pulled her hood up. She had her cell phone, and a radio, but she was surrounded by trees and wasn’t getting any signal or response for either. Serves her right for trying to take a shortcut, but she was determined to win that trip to Hawaii. Sending her grandparents to Hawaii was at least some consolation for a crappy weekend. Now, she wouldn’t even get that.
Susie started tramping through the snow to find higher ground. She should have let Candace come with her, but Candace would have tried to cheer her up – as she had last night and all morning - and Susie was in no mood for company or being cheered up.
Candace would have spent this time listing all the ways she was better off without Barlow, and Susie didn’t believe any of them for a second.
She carefully took her time in climbing over a fallen log – after all her mishaps over the weekend, the last thing she needed was to fall on her ass again. Taking her time, she made it over without a trip, a grazed knee or a torn pair of pants. She was about to start patting herself on the back when she heard a blood-curdling roar.
*
Thankfully, all the snowmobiles had trackers. The snowmobiles were always available to guests, and lots of them got lost, so the hotel decided it was for the best that they could track them to retrieve both their guests and their snowmobiles.
Finding the snowmobile proved quite easy. Sadly, Susie wasn’t with it.
His wolf prowled impatiently as Barlow sniffed. Magnolia. He and his beast groaned. She smelled beautiful. He had missed her last night. Her pillow, steeped in her scent was nowhere near a good-enough substitute. He had spooned it all night long nonetheless, but still.
It was snowing lightly, but not enough to cover her footprints. She couldn’t be far, and he wanted to find her quickly. He could scent wild animals in these damn woods.
He strode after her, considering what he would say when he found her.
I’m sorry.
I’m a dick.
I think I’m falling in love with you.
Let’s hurry back to the hotel to have sex because check out is in an hour.
Probably not the last one, but something along the lines of the first three.
He grunted as the footsteps stopped at the bottom of a tree. Had she flown away?
He snarled as something hit his head. He looked up to find Susie sitting in the tree and motioning frantically, mouthing something to him.
“What?”
“Bear, you idiot!” she howled.
His wolf snarled in warning as he spotted something big and fast hurtling his way.
“Aww, crap!”
Barlow scrambled up the tree, and Susie helped pull him onto the branch opposite. He was grateful it was sturdy enough to take his weight.
He looked down at the huge bear, all teeth, claws and black eyes as it roared and beat its paws against the tree.
“I can’t remember if bears can climb trees or not, but this one doesn’t seem able,” whispered Susie.
“Looks too fat,” said Barlow.
The bear gave an answering growl and slumped down on his butt.
Susie let out a groan. “He was leaving before you turned up.”
Barlow raised an eyebrow. “Were you planning on making a run for it?”
“Maybe,” she replied uncertainly. “Well, I wasn’t planning on sitting up here and freezing to death.”
“You don’t need to worry – I’m here now.”
“Yes, the way you scrambled up this tree fills me with great confidence,” she muttered.
Barlow affected a hurt expression as his wolf pouted. “Are you suggesting I can’t protect my mate?”
“I’m suggesting… wait, what did you just say?”
Susie blinked at him, and he took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I was a dick. I want us to be together.”
She stared at him for a few moments. The only sound was of the bear below scratching his fat behind. “Are you saying that because you think we’re about to die?”
His wolf huffed. “Little darling, we are not going to die today. In fact, I foresee a long happy life for the two of us. You’re not allowed to die for a good seventy years.”
“You’ve changed your tune,” she said slowly, giving him a wary look.
“I was wrong.” He smiled gently. “Little darling, I wanted you the moment I saw you. My wolf wanted you the moment he scented you.” The beast howled in agreement. “But I was too… too…”
“Stubborn?” she suggested. “Pig-headed? Stupid? Moronic? Foolish? Idiot! Dope!”
“Whoa, little darling, you’re just insulting me now.”
Susie pursed her lips.
“And I agree I deserve them, and you’re right. I was an idiot, but c’mon, little darling, I’m falling in love with you.” He grinned at her.
Susie chewed on her cheek. “You know, if we get together, you’ll need to drop Roxanne.”
“What?!” he roared and almost managed to topple out of the tree. The bear looked like he was licking his lips. “There is nothing going on with Roxanne. I swear, little darling. I wanted Edward to see that she’s nuts – that’s the only reason I would let that crazy bitch lick me!”
Edward had taken it on board too. He left the hotel last night – on his own. Roxanne left earlier that morning – when she had slept off her hangover.
“I hope you bathed after that lick,” said Susie.
“Susie!” His beast howled and his branch dangerously rocked.
“Okay, okay! I believe you – no need to throw yourself to the bear.”
“Susie,” he breathed. “I want you. I need you.”
She was hesitating. She wanted to say yes to him. But she was afraid of him breaking her heart, and he didn’t blame her, not after Allen and not after the way he rejected her.
“Little darling, I’d do anything for you, and if the last few days have taught me anything, it’s that I am more than capable of taking care of you and keeping you alive, and I’ll do it again now.”
Barlow shakily stood up on the branch.
“What are you doing?” she asked fearfully.
“Proving to you how much I care about you.”
Her eyes flicked between him and the bear who was taking very great interest in what Barlow was up to.
“Barlow, no, you don’t…” He lifted his leg, about to step off and she screamed at him. “Barlow, no! Stop it! I care about you, too, okay!” He readied himself to jump. “I want to be with you, too, just don’t jump.” He didn’t stop. “I’m falling in love with you too, just stop being an ass and we can be together!”
He froze and looked at her. “You mean it?”
“Yes, yes I mean it!” she cried, trying to reach out to grab him.
“You’re falling in love with me?”
“Yes! You moron!”
His wolf howled in triumph and Barlow beamed. “Well, that puts a different spin on things.”
He jumped off the branch towards the waiting bear.